Not Proud of My Faith

John 1:29-34, CEB

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is really greater than me because he existed before me.’   Even I didn’t recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be made known to Israel.”   John testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it rested on him.  Even I didn’t recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit coming down and resting is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’   I have seen and testified that this one is God’s Son.”

                There are several things that could be explored in this passage, but to do so risks diluting the critical takeaway.  And that really important point is this;  knowledge of the true nature of who Jesus is always a gift of the Spirit of God.  This is why John says twice that “even I didn’t recognize him.”  John doesn’t figure out who Jesus is.  God revealed who Jesus is to John.  This is always the way it works.  For everyone.  Yes. Even you. Even me. 

                To say otherwise is to elevate human effort, intelligence, and/or wisdom beyond it’s limits.  We know who Jesus is because God wants us to know who Jesus is.  Paul echoes this truth when he says, “no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3).  In Matthew 16:16-17, when Peter confesses Jesus is the Messiah, we hear Jesus state the same truth:

                Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Then Jesus replied, “Happy are you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human has shown this to you. Rather my Father who is in heaven has shown you.

The biblical witness is that there is no pride to be had in recognizing and embracing Jesus for who He is.  Our faith in Jesus is a gift of the “grace upon grace” of God.  The further implication is that no human being can convert another human to become a Christian.  God may use our witness to reveal who Jesus is to another, but we don’t ever get to take credit for it.  This is why John keeps saying, “I’m a witness.” His hope is that God will use his witness, but it is nothing more than a witness nonetheless.

                Questions:  Have you ever thought of your faith in Jesus as something you developed yourself? Have you ever felt you were responsible for someone else coming to faith?

Prayer:  God, my wisdom is your foolishness, and your wisdom often seems foolish to me.  Reveal Yourself and Your truth to me and I shall be thankful.  Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Pray for the gospel to be shared with people who have never heard it before.

Song:  Spirit of the Loving God – Vertical Worship